Grand Portage National Monument

If you have a full day, you have time to see the museum exhibits at the Heritage Center, walk through the historic North West Company Depot, have a picnic along Lake Superior, and hike to the top of Mount Rose or a part of the Grand Portage Trail.

From the Heritage Center parking lot to the top of Mount Rose and down to the Historic Depot, you'll pass through different habitats. Listen for Merlins and White-throated Sparrows, watch Turkey Vultures soar, and warblers flit among the branches.

A selection of books and souvenirs are available for sale in the bookstore.

Junior Rangers have fun discovering history, while learning about why we need to protect the special treasures found in our National Parks. We need the help of all our rangers to keep Grand Portage National Monument preserved and protected for many more years to come. Pick up a free Junior Ranger activity booklet at the Heritage Center, discover the park, and become a ranger by earning your badge today!

Learn about Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) culture past and present. Explore the art and craft of the Grand Portage community with many museum objects on display, including tools for woodworking and gathering maple sugar, a cradleboard, a drum, beaded items, and more.

Suggestions for what to do if you have a half day to explore Grand Portage. Plan to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a view of the bay. These activities take place indoors at the Heritage Center and Depot, as well as outdoors on the grounds.

Several options exist for exploring the Grand Portage. From a canoe adventure starting in the Boundary Waters to a short walk from the Depot, this trail offers year-round options for hiking, portaging, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Hike the Mount Rose Trail for stunning views of Grand Portage Bay and the Depot. To experience the trek the Voyageurs made as well as Indigenous people before them, hike a portion or all of Gitchi Onagamiing, the Grand Portage Trail.

Hike to the top of Mount Rose for a spectacular view of Grand Portage Bay and beyond – on a clear day, Isle Royale is visible! From a protective stone wall, get a bird's eye view of the depot or look west to the gap in the land where the voyageurs transported goods along Gichi Onigaming, the Grand Portage Trail. Learn about the ancient geology that created the rugged beauty of the North Shore landscape.